By Arielle Weg-Zager
One of my favorite parts about cooking and hosting is planning a menu, and I find that the summertime is the ultimate opportunity to prepare something really special. The days are longer, I have friends stopping by more often, the produce is oh-so-delicious, and I have a yearning to eat something that will transport me to a time or a place. After all, traveling isn’t always financially realistic. But I can always take my tastebuds somewhere at the dinner table for a fraction of the cost of going there myself with some solid dinner party menu ideas.
For example, instead of planning a trip to Spain, I once planned a meal with gazpacho, tomato toasts, and tuna tartare. In an attempt to dine like I was traveling in Italy, I’ve made Caprese salad served alongside fresh bread for dipping. To indulge in some Korean-inspired flavors, I’ve made Korean meatballs with pickled cucumbers and an Asian-style salad. Once, I even made a French-style picnic with a baguette, croissants (store-bought, of course), fresh fruit, cheese, butter, and veggies. The thrill of the vacation is there for one meal, without ever having to buy a plane ticket.
And while I can sometimes be a little ambitious with my dinner party menu ideas, putting together a wow-worthy meal that feels like a staycation without the price tag is easier than you’d think. Here’s how to do it: to keep things manageable, stick to two to three recipes that feel like they pair nicely and incorporate some new ingredients, but keep the bulk of the foods to things you already know. Lean on store-bought shortcuts for ease and invite some adventurous friends over to enjoy together. Then, set the tone with a great playlist and maybe even a family movie that takes place exactly where your meal takes you.
To help bring a summer staycation to your own dining table, I’ve put together eight travel-inspired dinner party menu ideas. These will take you outside of your comfort zone and your home, each with three dish options (and some bonus ones) that will turn your kitchen table into a whole new world.
Spanish-Inspired Dinner Party Menu Ideas
Spanish Ratatouille
While ratatouille is often associated with France, this version takes the classic ingredients, like eggplant, zucchini, tomato, and bell pepper, and gives them some Spanish flair with cumin and Manchego cheese. Don’t forget to serve alongside crusty bread for dipping.
Get the recipe: Spanish Ratatouille
Easy Spanish Tortilla
Traditional Spanish tortillas have thinly sliced potatoes to create the iconic bite, but a bag of kettle-cooked potato chips is the perfect hack to get that wow-worthy dish at home. A hearty portion of sautéed onions and fluffy eggs makes this an anytime-of-the-day delight.
Get the recipe: Easy Spanish Tortilla
Garlic Shrimp with Chorizo
Chorizo is crucial for Spanish-inspired dinner party menu ideas. The pork sausage pairs perfectly with hearty shrimp, and it’s all spiced with a blend of garlic, smoked paprika, parsley, and lemon.
Get the recipe: Garlic Shrimp with Chorizo
Bonus recipes: Big Batch Sangria, Spanish Tomato Toasts, Grilled Chicken Drumsticks Over Spanish Rice, Green Gazpacho, Air-Fried Churros with Chocolate Sauce
French-Inspired Dinner Party Menu Ideas
Quiche Lorraine
There are a few things the French do better than enjoying leisurely, long meals with friends. This classic quiche uses fully cooked bacon, a prepared pie shell, and pre-shredded cheese for a speedy version of the favorite that the whole family will love.
Get the recipe: Quiche Lorraine
French Spring Salad
Inspired by the French salad nicoise, this at-home version is a warm-weather delight. Packed with eggs and tuna for protein and produce like green beans, potatoes, radishes, and olives, it’s an elegant addition to your French feast.
Get the recipe: French Spring Salad
Make-Ahead Crepes
These French-style pancakes are the perfect addition for your international dinner party menu ideas. Choose your favorite filling—like sweet jam, chocolate-hazelnut spread, and fruit or savory cheese, sautéed spinach, and ham—and let your family decide how they want to enjoy.
Get the recipe: Make-Ahead Crepes
Bonus recipes: Slow Cooker Cassoulet, Sheet Pan Croque Monsieur, Slow Cooker French Onion Soup, Ratatouille Vegetable Stew
Italian-Inspired Dinner Party Menu Ideas
Marinated Tomato Caprese
Summer in Italy screams caprese. Fresh tomatoes get even sweeter when left to marinate in salt, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil. When paired with torn mozzarella, it’s an elegant, yet easy and refreshing, side.
Get the recipe: Marinated Tomato Caprese
Italian Pastina with Egg and Cheese
While pasta comes to mind when you think of Italian food, pastina is a unique noodle worth adding to the mix. The tiny pasta soaks up all the goodness of butter and Parmesan for a comforting, but light meal, that pairs beautifully with other dishes.
Get the recipe: Italian Pastina with Egg and Cheese
Grilled Steaks with Italian Salsa Verde
A blend of parsley, garlic, anchovies, lemon juice, and capers is the perfect topper for perfectly grilled steak. The herby and acidic sauce balances the fatty steak for a main that everyone will crave.
Get the recipe: Grilled Steaks with Italian Salsa Verde
Bonus recipes: Spaghetti Puttanesca, Broiled Cod with Eggplant Caponata, Ribollita Soup, Air-Fried Arancini, Easy Italian Ice, Aperol Spritz with Grapefruit
Mexican-Inspired Dinner Party Menu Ideas
Mexican Street Corn Dip
Inspired by Mexican street corn, this Americanized dish is a great introduction and easy-to-eat appetizer version. Sweet summer corn has never tasted as good as when it’s mixed with lime juice, jalapeno, cilantro, cotija cheese, and chili powder.
Get the recipe: Mexican Street Corn Dip
Mexican Spicy Shrimp Cocktail
Pre-cooked shrimp not only speeds up this Mexican-inspired dish, but it gives it an at-home ease that we love. Tomatoes, celery, cucumber, red onion, avocado, and cilantro in a bright dressing create the refreshing salad base for this stunning seafood dish.
Get the recipe: Mexican Spicy Shrimp Cocktail
Salsa Verde Beef Enchiladas
Enchiladas are a Mexican favorite the whole family will love, and a jar of salsa verde helps amp up the flavor with little work. While the filling has a spiced beef, bean, and corn mixture, you can use whatever enchilada filling your family likes.
Get the recipe: Salsa Verde Beef Enchiladas
Bonus recipes: Pork and Pineapple Tacos, Mexican Shrimp Pozole Verde, Slow Cooker Birria Tacos, Classic Guacamole
Chinese-Inspired Dinner Party Menu Ideas
Two-Ingredient Scallion Pancakes
Dumpling wrappers are the secret to making these homemade scallion pancakes without rolling out a from-scratch dough. Then, whip up a quick dipping sauce, and this Chinese street food staple is ready for serving.
Get the recipe: Two-Ingredient Scallion Pancakes
Longevity Noodles
Often served during the Lunar New Year, these long noodles are a flavor powerhouse with green onions, ginger, garlic, and sesame oil. Shiitake mushrooms and spinach round out the dish for the ultimate Chinese noodle to slurp up.
Get the recipe: Longevity Noodles
Kung Pao Shrimp
Hoisin sauce, Asian chili garlic sauce, balsamic vinegar, and minced garlic create the perfect sauce for this go-to Chinese dish. This version uses juicy shrimp, but you can mix up the protein based on your family’s preferences.
Get the recipe: Kung Pao Shrimp
Bonus recipes: Chicken Potstickers, Air-Fried Veggie Spring Rolls, Chinese Pork Meatballs, Shanghai-Style Green Onion Noodles with Bok Choy
Greek-Inspired Dinner Party Menu Ideas
Greek Salad
Nothing is as delightful as digging into a bowl of juicy summer tomatoes and cucumber, creamy feta cheese, briny olives, and crunchy bell pepper. This Greek salad is a veggie-packed dish even salad haters can get behind.
Get the recipe: Greek Salad
Greek Chicken Breasts and Potatoes
This method of cooking chicken not only allows for a bright and beautiful lemon sauce to form, but cooking the chicken over the potatoes gives them an extra unctuous flavor from the drippings. A sprinkle of parsley at the end really brings it all together for the ultimate Greek main.
Get the recipe: Greek Chicken Breasts and Potatoes
Spinach and Feta Pie
Make this Greek pie easily at home with frozen spinach, cottage cheese, and feta crumbles. It’s impressive but a fraction of the work of the real thing.
Get the recipe: Spinach and Feta Pie
Bonus recipes: Chicken Skewers with Broccoli and Yogurt Sauce, Instant Pot Greek-Style Meatballs with Feta, Mini Grilled Steak Gyros, Orzo Salad with Zucchini and Tomatoes
Japanese-Inspired Dinner Party Menu Ideas
Easy DIY Sushi
Sushi is synonymous with Japan, and this DIY version makes an at-home sushi party possible. We love smoked salmon, imitation crab, cucumber, and avocado as a family-friendly filling that’s easy to work with and oh-so good.
Get the recipe: Easy DIY Sushi
Chicken Yakitori
Grilled meat skewers are a staple in Japanese cuisine and this skewered chicken is an essential to your Japanese-inspired spread. Each is brushed with ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar, and mirin for a flavor pop that’ll bring you right to the streets of Tokyo.
Get the recipe: Chicken Yakitori
Soba Noodle Salad with Soft Tofu
These buckwheat noodles are tossed in a light and delicious peanut sauce. A pre-made vegetable slaw, marinated tofu, and crunchy cucumber round it out into a quick and filling chilled dish.
Get the recipe: Soba Noodle Salad with Soft Tofu
Bonus recipes: Salmon Nori Wraps, Spicy Marinated Edamame, Broiled Miso Salmon with Bok Choy, Quick Pork Ramen Soup, Iced Green Tea Latte
New England-Inspired Dinner Party Menu Ideas
Lobster Rolls with Grilled Green Onions
Can you take a summer trip to New England without a lobster roll? Pre-cooked lobster and a few extra ingredients turn this seafood shack favorite into an at-home delight that you can only get in the great Northeast.
Get the recipe: Lobster Rolls with Grilled Green Onions
Quick and Easy New England-Style Baked Beans
Canned beans help to quicken this traditional side dish. A touch of smoky bacon, sweet molasses, and potent dry mustard creates the perfect balance of flavors that brings you right to Boston Harbor.
Get the recipe: Quick and Easy New England-Style Baked Beans
Blueberry Pie Foil Packet
Summer in Maine means blueberry everything, and these blueberry foil packets are perfect for throwing on the grill or in your campfire this summer. Fresh summer blueberries work best here, but you can swap frozen in or any of your other favorite fruits.
Get the recipe: Blueberry Pie Foil Packet
Bonus recipes: Grilled Scallops with Butter Cracker Crumbs, Grilled White Clam Pizza, New England Clam Chowder, Baked Cod with Cracker Crumb Topping, Blueberry Lemonade
Arielle Weg-Zager is the digital editor of SavoryOnline and has been writing about food, nutrition, and health for over 8 years. She collects cookbooks and loves nothing more than cooking elaborate meals for her friends or exploring the local restaurant scene.
